Ahead of the forthcoming FTP test I wanted to get some indication of how I’m doing at the current 245w figure. I’ve been thinking that’s on the high side, but was keen to understand whether or not I could actually hold that power for a prolonged period of time.
Spoiler alert: yes.
But it wasn’t a particularly pleasant experience.
OK, so straight up – yet again I forgot to change my weight in game. It’s so easy for this to slip my mind which is quite frustrating. Actually it turns out you can do it from your profile on Zwift.com, so I have just done that – bumping up to 68kg.
I’ve only ever done the 2x 15 Minute FTP Intervals workout once before. Back then I was clearly at the wrong FTP as reading back it seems I breezed it. Less so today, I’d say. Nice to have a record of it though.
I knew this one would be a challenge. It’s something like 72 TSS as opposed to 66 TSS for an SST session. As I’m finding the SST workouts just about taking me to the edge I was under no illusions of this being in any way easier.
This one is broken down into two sections. There’s the 10 minute ramp up, first 15 minute block, a ten minute breather, and then 15 more minutes of flat out fun.
I was thinking the 10 minute break at 145w might not seem like much of a rest, but it really did after being at threshold for 15 minutes.
During that first block, or more accurately towards the end of it, I was hurting. Not crazy so, but enough to make me wonder how I’d be feeling the next time around.
Well, let me tell you: I felt pretty much at my limit.
Those last three minutes really, really hurt. I had to force myself to keep a high cadence, really working for it. When it finished I felt like I was going to throw up. I’ve been on Zwift before with people in the chat getting all manly about that sort of thing, but it’s not something I particularly enjoy. I don’t feel like I need to push myself to vomiting point as part of my workout regime.
Now, on the plus side I did get through this. Don’t get me wrong. At 7.5 minutes to go in that second block, I wanted to quit. Same at 5 minutes remaining. It was only as the clock ticked down that thoughts of “I can’t do this” faded away and “for the love of God, let’s just get through this” took over.
The takeaway?
I think my FTP figure is accurate.
Is that going to stop me doing an FTP test?
Well, I could easily use it as an excuse. I can’t see me bettering it. But it’s a slightly different challenge. By 10 minutes in today, even on the first block, I was already eyeing the clock. Another 10 minutes to go, AND having to push even harder (getting the 95% figure rather than the 100%), AND having already done the other 4DP efforts?
Yeah… I’ve kinda forgotten just how horrible these fitness tests can get.
But no, it’s not put me off. I might end up sounding like I belong on a labour ward, but by jingo I will get through this and get the test ticked off. If nothing else only so I can put it off again for another 6+ months 🙂
For now though? Rest.
